The Maxfield Parrish Affair

This pop-up exhibit on our ground floor, looks at the incredible and heartbreaking art heist in Los Angeles that is still one of the top ten unsolved mysteries of the art world. Two 8- foot-tall murals cut from their frames in the middle of the night in 2005. The murals were painted by artist Maxfield Parrish. They were commissioned by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. They were owned by J.P. Bryan. Come enter the world of augmented reality and take a look at these beautiful works of art now lost to public view. Visitors are asked to use their mobile phones to view the stolen murals through augmented reality.

This exhibit is on view for a limited time from January 10 through February 18.

Thank you for allowing me to use colors as rich and deep as you please. I had always wanted to do so yet was never allowed because of the color capabilities of our lithographers today. Now that I have done it, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.”

Parish to Whitney